HUMBLE HOST SALUTES ONE OF THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE… COLONEL RAMON ANTON HORINEK, USAF (Retired)
RIPPLE SALVO… #964… IN ADDITION TO THE SALUTE FOR A GREAT AMERICAN WARRIOR… THE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE FOR 24-25 OCTOBER 1968 THAT RECORD FOR POSTERITY THE LAST DISCUSSIONS BEFORE THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THE CESSATION OF OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER, A 44-MONTH AIR CAMPAIGN BEGUN ON 2 MARCH 1965… but first…
GOOD MORNING… Day NINE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR of a 1,000-day commemoration of the Vietnam War and OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…
HEAD LINES from The New York Times for Friday, 25 October 1968…
THE WAR: Page 1: “SAIGON WILL FREE 140 CAPTIVES SOON–VIETCONG RELEASE 11–AMERICANS KILLED IN ACTION NOW SET AT 28,925″… “The South Vietnamese Government and the Vietcong announced today tha they were freeing some prisoners. A Government spokesman said that 140 Vietcong prisoners would be released in downtown Saigon’s central market area, probably within 10 days, as ‘a tolerant and humanitarian gesture.’ A broadcast by the clandestine radio station of the Vietcong said that 11 South Vietnamese soldiers had been set free recently in Binhthuan Province, about 125 miles northeast of Saigon. The action, the broadcast said, was based on a ‘lenient and humane policy.’… The announcement came as peace rumors were being revived on word that the war had again lapsed into a lull after two days of heavy fighting… A report that battlefield deaths and injuries on both sides had declined last week for the fifth consecutive week created additional speculation. Some of the totals were the lowest in more than a year. The report covered the seven days ending last Saturday and so did not include some 350 enemy soldiers killed Tuesday and yesterday. According to the new figures, 100 Americans were killed in combat last week, the lowest weekly total since the second week in August, 1967, when 82 Americans were killed. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AMERICANS KILLED SINCE JANUARY, 1961, IS 28,925. (The final cost in American lives= 58,220. Almost 30,000 more young Americans will die in this war without end after the cessation of Rolling Thunder) South Vietnamese units lost 132 men last week. Enemy dead totaled 1,243…. although ground action was relatively quiet today, delayed combat report served as a reminder that the enemy was still a formidable force. The reports showed that during the fighting earlier this week three helicopters and two observation planes had been knocked down by enemy gunners. Three aviators were killed.”… Page 16: “ALLIES MAINTAIN WAR FOOTING DESPITE LULL IN FIGHTING”…
PEACE TALKS: Page 1: “JOHNSON SAYS U.S. IS STILL AWAITING A REPLY BY HANOI–No Breakthrough On Offer To Halt Bombing–He Tells News Conference–Stresses His Efforts–Hanoi In Paris Notes Opportunities For An End To Attacks In North”… Page 16: “HANOI’s THUY FINDS OPPORTUNITIES NOW FOR A BOMBING HALT”… Six State Department HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS dated 24 October 1968 and three documents dated 25 October are identified and linked for your perusal and inclusion in this 1,000 post review of Rolling Thunder. Humble Host assumes reader interest in the hundreds of earlier State Department Historical Documents linked to these posts and ability to access the several series of documents associated with the bombing of North Vietnam 1965 to 1968. To access the 24 and 25 October documents link to Document 114 and mouse the faint forward carrot in the right margin of 114 to access 115, etc. There are 18 pages of telegrams, meeting notes, memos and telephone conversations included in this series of formerly Top Secret and Sensitive Intelligence, some, Eyes Only, documents. No charge for this extraordinary history lesson… Start reading at …
Doc 114… https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d114
HEAD LINES… Page 1: “RETURNING WARSAW PACT TROOPS GREETED BY SOVIET–Baltic District Hails Forces From Czechoslovakia Invasion With Speeches And Flowers”… Page 1: “EXPERTS ANALYZE WORLD STRATEGY–Prepare Wide U.S. Military Options For Next President”… Page 1: “NIXON PROMISES ARMS SUPERIORITY OVER THE SOVIETS–Vows A Clear Cut Military Edge If He Is Elected–Sees Security Gap”… Page 1: “SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY ASKS VOTE REJECTING WALLACE”… Page 1: “3,000 POLICE SURROUND MADISON SQUARE GARDEN AS WALLACE STAGES A RALLY”… Page 6: “WEST GERMANY PURCHASE OF 88 PHANTOMS FROM U.S. VOTED IN BUNDESTAG”… Page 20: “JOHNSON TO HELP HUMPHREY ON TV–Will Give Nationwide Talk Sunday Before Election”… Page 20: “MUSKIE HAILED IN PENNSYLVANIA–Crowds Cheer Call To End War”… SPORTS: “George Foreman, 19-year-old American, Knocks Out Italian In Second Round to Gain Olympic Final”…
25 OCTOBER 1968… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…New York Times (26 Oct reporting 25 Oct ops) Page 8: “In another war development, a military spokesman reported that an Air Force F-4 jet fighter plane was downed Thursday by North Vietnamese gunners about 25 miles north of the eastern end of the demilitarized zone.”… IT WAS THE 912th UNITED STATES FIXED WING AIRCRAFT LOST OVER NORTH VIETNAM IN ROLLING THUNDER OPS… (See RTR for 24 Oct 1968: F-4 pilots were MAJOR GEORGE TYLER (MIA) and 1LT DARRELL RICHARDSON (Rescued) )…
VIETNAM: AIR LOSSES (Chris Hobson) There were no fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 25 October 1968…
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) ON THE FOUR 25 OCTOBER DATES FOR THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OPERATION OVER NORTH VIETNAM…
1965, 1966, and 1968… NONE…
1967… The Phuc Yen and Paul Doumer Bridge Strikes… LT JEFFREY MARTIN KROMMENHOEK, USN… (KIA)… and… MAJOR RICHARD EUGENE SMITH, USAF… (POW)…and… CAPTAIN RAMON ANTON HORINEK, USAF… (POW)…
LT KROMMENHOEK was flying an A-4E of the VA-163 Saints embarked in USS Oriskany as part of a large Carrier Air Wing 16 strike on Phuc Yen airfield. He was last seen rolling in on the target amid intense AAA and a volley of surface-to-air missiles. After the raid was over he failed to respond to radio calls but a search of the area was impossible due to the intensity of the defenses in the heartland of North Vietnam. No emergency beeper signals or radio calls were heard or parachute or downed aircraft sighted during the search period. LT KROMMENHOEK was listed a Missing in Action with the hope tht he had been captured. In 1973 when the POWs came home he was not among them. Eventually has declared “Presumed Killed in Action after a status board review based on the lack of evidence to the contrary. LT JEFF KROMMENHOEK rests in peace on the battlefield where he fell fifty-one years ago this day… He is remembered with respect and admiration with the hope that someday he will be found and returned to the country he loved and served… For now…he has been left behind… the search goes on… Right?…
(By Humble Host’s count this was the 26th Oriskany CAG-16 aircraft lost on the ’67 cruise. LCDR John McCain would be downed for #27 on the 26th, the one-year anniversary of the horrific Oriskany fire)…
MAJOR RICHARD EUGENE SMITH was flying an F-105D of the 354th TFS and 355th TFW out of Takhli as one of 21 F-105s packing wings lo9aded with 3,000-pound bombs for a Wing strike on the Paul Doumer Bridge in Hanoi when he was downed. MAJOR SMITH of Wildcat flight pulled up from dropping his bombs on the target and felt the aircraft being struck with medium calibre antiaircraft fire. His aircraft started to burn as he overflew the city of Hanoi and headed west for the safety of the jungle. He was able to fly his dying aircraft 25 miles west of Hanoi before he was forced to eject. He was shot twice in his legs by his captors in the process of his capture… He was imprisoned until released in March 1973. In retirement he served a tour as the President of the Air Force Association. Two spans of the Doumer Bridge were dropped on the strike…
MAJOR RICHARD EUGENE SMITH was awarded the SILVER STAR for…”… gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as the Pilot of a Republic F-105D Thunderchief of the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron…in action over North Vietnam, on 25 October 1967. On that date, MAJOR SMITH led a flight which was part of a strike force directed to attack the largest and most important railroad bridge in North Vietnam. He flew through a surface-to-=air missile attack and extremely intense and accurate anti-aircraft artillery barrages to place his ordnance directly on the bridge. MAJOR SMITH’s bombs dropped one span of the bridge into the river. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, MAJOR SMITH has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force…. oohrah…
CAPTAIN RAMON ANTON HORINEK, USAF, was flying an F-105D of the 333rd TFS and 355th TFW out of Takhli as part of a wing strike on the airfield at Phuc Yen with the task of proving flak suppression for the flight. Over the target he commenced an attack on an active AAA site and was hit by 57-mm anti aircraft fire. His Thunderchief burst into flames and he was forced to eject over the target. He broke an ankle on landing and was captured immediately to spend the next five and a half years as a POW of the North Vietnamese to conclude his third tour of duty in combat in Southeast Asia. He was released to return home in March 1973 and resume flying duties until retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1983… He was among the bravest of the brave… Humble Host is honored to include the Citation that accompanied his award of the AIR FORCE CROSS and portions of a few of his many other awards for VALOR IN COMBAT…
AMONG THE BRAVE…EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM…CAPTAIN RAMON ANTON HORINEK, USAF…the AIR FORCE CROSS… 16 TO 19 FEBRUARY 1966…
Citation: “The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the AIR FORCE CROSS to LIEUTENANT COLONEL (then Captain) RAMON ANTON HORINEK, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller and Pilot of an O-1 Airplane of the 1st Air Commando Wing, Bien Hoa Air Base, Vietnam, PACIFIC Air Force, in action with friendly forces in Southeast Asia, from 16 February 1966 to 19 February 1966, CAPTAIN HORINEK successfully directed air strikes which permitted the safe withdrawal of friendly forces and destruction of an evacuated site despite repeated machine gun hits on his light aircraft. While providing support for an attack against a second site his aircraft was again struck by hostile fire. Realizing the importance of his presence, he landed on the site airstrip, knowing that the approaches were dominated by the enemy. On foot, and under constant fire, he directed strikes which dislodged the enemy and permitted resumption of aircraft evacuation from the strip. Throughout the period, alternatively in the air, and on the ground, he continued to direct strikes while repeatedly exposed to fierce hostile fire, until the site was successfully evacuated. CAPTAIN HORINEK’s gallantry and professionalism permitted the safe withdrawal of many friendly troops and prevented the recovery of quantities of munitions and supplies by the enemy. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, CAPTAIN HORINEK has reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”…
THE CITATION FOR COLONEL HORINEK’s FIRST OF TWO awards of the SILVER STAR… “…for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as Pilot of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Takhli Royal Thai Air Base… in action over North Vietnam on 25 October 1967. On that date, flying an F-105 Thunderchief, CAPTAIN HORINEK was assigned to strike a high priority military target. CAPTAIN HORINEK displayed exceptional courage, fortitude and determination toward mission accomplishment in the face of some of the most formidable defenses ever encountered in aerial combat. After sustaining a devastating direct hit he continued his dive bombing run and placed his ordnance on the target, destroying two hostile MIG aircraft. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, CAPTAIN HORINEK has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force… “
His second SILVER STAR was awarded for gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during the period from 25 to 31 October 1967, while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions and propaganda materials. COLONEL HORINEK resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner that reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.” COLONEL HORINEK was also awarded the LEGION OF MERIT with VALOR V for extraordinary and honorable performance while a POW…
Among his many other combat citations are three awards of the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, one as a FAC for a flights flown in a hostile threat area controlling strikes on 13, 14 and 15 March 1966. “…under extremely heavy hostile flak and automatic weapons fire, CAPTAIN HORINEK continued to perform low level visual reconnaissance from his light, unarmed aircraft and directed over one hundred jet strike sorties against communist mountain top positions. As a direct result of this extraordinary performance, friendly forces were able to capture two strategic mountain peaks.”… A second DFC citation for an F-105 strike includes this: “…for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an F-105 pilot on a strike over North Vietnam on 9 September 1967. On that date, CAPTAIN HORINEK, although faced with extreme adverse weather inbound to the target and intense anti-aircraft artillery fire blanketing the target itself, expertly delivered his ordnance directly on the strike area….” His third DFC was awarded for a flight on 7 October 1967: “On that date CAPTAIN HORINEK was a member of the first flight to ever strike a North Vietnamese helicopter parking area. He made six strafing passes with such accuracy that six helicopters were completely destroyed and two more were severely damaged. While making these attacks, he had to evade surface-to-air missiles and MIG-17 aircraft which were defending this area….” Among his other awards: Three BRONZE STARS with COMBAT V for VALOR, a box full of AIR MEDALS, and the PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL… In addition, a broken ankle on a ‘chute touchdown near Phuc Yen was probably good for a PURPLE HEART… Also: Did you notice? Credit for two MIGs on the ground and six helicopters by strafing… That has got to be a one-of-kind… oohrah…
HUMBLE HOST salutes COLONEL HORINEK… one of the bravest of the brave among the legion of the brave who carried the fight to the enemy in the years of Rolling Thunder…
RTR Quote for 25 October: COLONEL RAMON ANTON HORINEK who wrote at the time of his release from POW duty in 1973…
“I have lived by one motto, and that is this–I am an American fighting man, I will go where I must go, fight where I must fight, die if I must die, but I will never betray my God, my country, my President, my fellow countrymen, or my fellow fighting men. I say NEVER. Engrave these words on your hearts, because that’s what our country expects out of each one of us.”…
A PLEDGE ADAPTABLE FOR ALL AMERICANS IN 2018… God bless RAMON HORINEK…
(Webmaster note: LTC Horinek passed away on 17 June 2020 and rests at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in San Antonio, Texas)
Lest we forget… Bear